You’ve Been Carrying Your Wallet All Wrong, Study Shows

Do you usually stuff your wallet into the back pocket of your jeans as you’re running out the door? If the answer is yes, you may want to reconsider where your wallet goes, according to new research. You may guess it’s because you’re at a greater risk of being pickpocketed — but in fact, science shows you’re at a bigger risk for something else entirely.

A study by Men’s Health shows there are some serious health complications that stem from sitting on your wallet. Carrying it in your back pocket while you’re standing up doesn’t pose a threat, but the real problems start when you’re sitting down either in a chair or in a car.

Stuart McGill, Ph.D., professor of spine biomechanics at the University of Waterloo, says that sitting on a wad of cash can put extreme stress on your hip joint and lower back, which often leads to chronic back pain. He further explained the lopsided bulk under one side of your body tilts your pelvis and misaligns your spine, causing long-term discomfort.

He shares your best bet to minimize stress on the body and alleviate pain is to remove your wallet from your pants entirely when sitting or driving. He continues that you should also consider switching to a money clip or slimmer wallet that only holds the essentials to avoid trouble from your back in the future.